A HOTEL PROJECT THAT GOT THE GREEN LIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD THREE YEARS AGO, HAS GOTTEN THE ATTENTION OF TREE LOVERS. THEY'RE TRYING TO SAVE A ONE HUNDRED AND TEN YEAR OLD RED HORSE CHESTNUT TREE FROM BEING CUT DOWN. ACTION NEWS REPORTER PHIL GOMEZ, WAS AT A VIGIL TODAY THAT WAS SET TO HONOR THE TREE...HE JOINS US LIVE FROM SANTA CRUZ. ### THESE TREE PROTESTORS WANT TO SAVE THE TREE FROM BEING DESTROYED. THEY'D LIKE TO SEE THE ONE HUNDRED AND TEN YEAR OLD TREE MOVED TO A SAFE LOCATION AND CLAIM THE CITY HAS VIOLATED ITS OWN HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE...THE CITY SAYS EVERYTHING WAS DONE BY THE BOOK. IT WAS A QUIET PROTEST TO SAVE THIS ONE HUNDRED AND TEN YEAR OLD RED HORSE CHESTNUT TREE, BUT IT DID CAPTURE THE ATTENTION OF SOME PASSING MOTORISTS ALONG BROADWAY STREET. THESE EIGHT PROTESTORS BELIEVE THE TREE SHOULD BE LOCATED ONSITE IN A 24 FOOT PLANTING AREA OR MOVED TO A CITY PARK, AND THEY ALSO BELIEVE THE CITY VIOLATED ITS OWN HERITAGE TREE ORDINANCE WHICH STATES A HERITAGE TREE COULD BE REMOVED ONLY IF A DESIGN CANNOT BE ALTERED TO ACCOMMODATE THE TREE. Basically, what happened is the develper, her architect and the planning director gave false information abot the tree. Incorrect information about the treen saying it was in decline, it's roots were very very sensitive. It needed a 54 feet planting area. THE CITY SAYS: THEY'RE ACTIONS WERE DONE ACCORDING TO LAW. AT A JANUARY HEARING THE CITY COUNCIL INCLUDED A CONDITION OF APPROVAL TO THE PROJECT WHICH WOULD ALLOW TIME FOR INTERESTED PARTIES TO PROJECT WHICH WOULD ALLOW TIME FOR INTERESTED PARTIES TO REVIEW THE FEASIBILITY OF MOVING THE TREE TO ANOTHER LOCATION. THE PROPERTY OWNER AND PROJECT APPLICANT AGREED TO THE CONDITION...AND SINCE THAT TIME HAVE ALLOWED ACCESS TO THE SITE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE TREE EVALUATED. THE TREE IS LOCATED WHERE A FOUR STORY, ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN,HYATT PLACE HOTEL IS SCHEDULED TO BE BUILT. BUT PROTESTORS AREN'T MOVED, INSISTING THE TREE IS HEALTHY AND THIS IS THEIR WAY OF SAYING GOODBYE TO IT. i would say there is really paying our last respects to the tree and also a statment about the fact our city is not following its ordinance to protect trees. We want that truth out there hopefully there will be changes in the future. THE CITY'S STATEMENT ALSO SAYS THERE IS NO PLANNED DATE TO REMOVE THE TREE AT THIS TIME .... AND IT WILL NOT HAPPEN IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. ### ACTION NEWS ALSO TRIED TO CONTACT THE HOTEL OWNER, BUT WE WERE TOLD THAT SHE'S OUT OF TOWN AT A CONFERENCE FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. ### THE CITY OF SALINAS